Emmy Award-winning TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, left, and Tony Rodio, right, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, high five each other after marquee lighting ceremony during the grand opening of Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Jimmy Kimmel and his comedian sister, Jill Kimmel, are shown at the grand opening of Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club at Linq Promenade on Friday, June 14, 2019. (Kabik Photo Group)

Chris Tucker is shown at the grand opening of Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club at Linq Promenade on Friday, June 14, 2019. (Kabik Photo Group)

Sarah Silverman is shown at the grand opening of Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club at Linq Promenade on Friday, June 14, 2019. (Kabik Photo Group)

Emmy Award-winning TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, arrives on the red carpet at his comedy club during the Grand Opening of Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Emmy Award-winning TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, arrives on the red carpet at his comedy club during the Grand Opening of Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Fans watch as Emmy Award-winning TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, arrives at his comedy club during the Grand Opening of Jimmy KimmelÕs Comedy Club at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Emmy Award-winning TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, left, and Tony Rodio, right, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, high five each other after marquee lighting ceremony during the grand opening of Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Emmy Award-winning TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, left, and Tony Rodio, right, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, high five each other after marquee lighting ceremony during the grand opening of Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club sign ups seen after the grand opening at the Linq on Friday, June 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Jimmy Kimmel could never handle the rock, but he got one Friday night.

Kimmel is especially nostalgic about the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball program, so dominant in his youth when he grew up in Las Vegas. One of the “mocktails” at his Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club bar is Tark’s Towel, a reminder of UNLV hoops legend Jerry Tarkanian’s habit of gnawing on a damp, folded towel on the sidelines.

Kimmel can now wear his Runnin’ Rebel loyalty daily. During Friday night’s GRAND OPENING (uppercase intended, as Kimmel mocked the oversized letters on the club’s sign onstage), Kimmel was presented with a replica 1990 UNLV National Championship ring.

Caesars Entertainment President and CEO Tony Rodio presented the bauble, with a diamond “1” in a ruby setting, at a marquee-lighting ceremony marking the club’s opening. The piece was made by Jostens, created from the ring’s original mold.

Afterward, as Kimmel headed through the entrance, he stopped and said, “I can’t believe this, it’s so thoughtful,” and as a few onlookers trained their phone cameras on the piece, he added, “Get that right under the light. It’s beautiful.”

Kimmel also called his TV sidekick, GuillermoRodriguez, to the stage for a few words. Rodriguez confided, “Jimmy, you know most of the time, I am drunk.” As Rodriguez loped offstage, Kimmel said, “People always ask me if Guillermo is an actor. I think that proves he is not an actor.”

Kimmel also said he has recorded his first comic from the club to appear on “Late Night With Jimmy Kimmel.” Beth Styling has actually taped her segment last week to air at a later date.

Kimmel’s son, Billy, was born with a heart defect, and Kimmel has used his late-night talk show as a platform to promote affordable health care for families. Kimmel’s longtime friend Jim Gentleman, a veteran Las Vegas marketing executive, is working with Kimmel on herding the many philanthropic overtures.

Kimmel is not sure when or even if his show will tape again from the Strip. Ratings for the episodes in the first week in April gradually built to one of his strongest Friday nights ever, when Celine Dion was the superstar guest.

“I don’t know — I didn’t even know if I was going to re-sign my contract when we were here in April,” said Kimmel, who signed a three-year extension in April. “It’s expensive. It’s up to the sales department than me.”

As for how frequently the star whose name is on the marquee will actually visit the club, Kimmel said, “I’m hoping to come once a month, pop in, at least for the first year. It’s fun for me.”

The club’s club

Star chef Gordon Ramsey and Raiders owner Mark Davis were among the news makers to hit Friday’s opening at Kimmel’s club. Also around the room, Cleto Escobedo Jr. and his son, Cleto Escobedo III. The younger Escobedo is Kimmel’s friend since childhood and the bandleader of Cleto and the Cletones. Cleto Jr., known as “Cleets” to his friends, was Sammy Davis Jr.’s head butler at Caesars Palace. Sammy was Kimmel’s first concert experience, at the old Circus Maximus showroom, a very Vegas distinction.

Ex-“Sopranos” cast members Steve Schirripa and Michael Imperioli hit David Perrico’s “Pop Strings” show on Friday night. Schirripa knows his live entertainment — he booked acts for the Riviera as that hotel’s entertainment director in the 1980s-90s. One of the acts he booked: Lon Bronson’s All-Star Band.

Carl’s Donuts in Las Vegas celebrates National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day

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Rick Harrison of "Pawn Stars" has a new store - VIDEO

Rick Harrison, the Pawn Stars co-star and owner of Gold & Silver Pawn, talks to the Review-Journal’s John Katsilometes about his soon-to-open Rick’s Collection retail outlet of mostly mid-century masterworks at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The annual Jazzy Cats event is taking place at the Rio Convention Center this weekend attracting cats owners from around the country and the world to compete for the top show awards. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

This just may be the gold standard for the filet mignon. Mr. Chow at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has introduced The Gold Encrusted Filet Mignon, which is coated with real 24-karat gold. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Working as a mermaid in Las Vegas - VIDEO

McKenzie Kawano works as a mermaid at the aquarium at the Silverton in Las Vegas. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Pinkbox Doughnuts opens third store in Las Vegas area

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Starbucks brings back Pumpkin Spice early

Starbucks declares Aug. 27 the first day of fall as they make their pumpkin spice items available a full month early. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Bachelor Party Fra Diavolo at Carmine’s in Las Vegas

Roberto Leon, a line cook at Carmine’s at The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas, makes Bachelor Party Fra Diavolo with eight pounds of lobster, a pound each of mussels, clams and shrimp, two pounds of pasta and two gallons of sauce. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Christopher Burns, owner of The Cereal Killerz Kitchen at Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson, makes a Milk & Cookies Shake from his more than 100 varieties of cereal. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Irma Perez, kitchen manager at Balboa Pizza Company at The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, near Las Vegas, brines chicken wings for 24 hours before roasting and frying them and finishing them in various styles such as Thai peanut. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Review-Journal)

New Venetian pool deck

Final touches are currently being added to the hotel’s main tower pool deck, which consists of five pools. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Who is Vegas Vic? (Jason Bracelin/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Nevada State Museum Director Dennis McBride explains the origins of the Vegas icon.

Slater’s 50/50 in Las Vegas serves a 4-pound Big Island Feast Burger

Cindy Sun, general manager of Slater’s 50/50 in Las Vegas, makes the Big Island Feast Burger with 2 1/2 pounds of the house bacon/beef blend, Napa-cilantro slaw, six slices of American cheese, a can of grilled Spam, six slices of chargrilled pineapple, four fried eggs and a drizzle of teriyaki and serves it with macaroni salad. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Get a first look of MSG Sphere construction in Las Vegas

Representatives of The Madison Square Garden Company give the first glimpse of progress Tuesday of the under-construction MSG Sphere — a first-of-its-kind performance venue with high-tech audio and visual capabilities.